Students, driver injured in Parkton school bus crash

Bus driver most seriously injured among 43 people aboard bus

Dozens of students were injured in school bus crash in Baltimore County, officials said. Crews were called at 2:36 p.m. Wednesday to the scene of York Road in the area of Bunker Hill to a crash involving an overturned school bus carrying students from Hereford Middle and High schools. In all nine students and the bus driver were taken to the hospital.

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Crews were called at 2:36 p.m. Wednesday to the scene of York Road in the area of Bunker Hill to a crash involving an overturned school bus carrying students from Hereford Middle and High schools.

"We were just going down York Road, and I looked ahead, and you can see the bus is swerving and I just closed my eyes and I opened my eyes and the bus is on its side and there are kids just all on the side, like where the windows are and there was cracked glass," eight grader Nick Dowell said. "We all got out the back door and went up the hill and then the police came and everything."

Baltimore County police said there were 43 people on board the bus. SkyTeam 11 Capt. Roy Taylor said there were dozens of injuries that were not severe and many of those students walked to EMS providers.

"All of the children fine. None of the children, from what I understand, had any serious injuries. The only serious injury was the bus driver," parent Brooke Riegel said.

The bus driver, Bonnie Faye Pessaro, 65, of Freeland, was taken to Sinai Hospital, police said. Her condition is unknown.

Fire officials said the bus driver's injuries were more severe. Investigators said that she was conscious and alert and was able to tell first responders how many students were on the bus.

Baltimore County Public Schools spokesman Mychael Dickerson said nine students were taken to the hospital. The students were taken to Greater Baltimore Medical Center, York County Hospital and University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, where hospital officials said they received four students who were being treated for bumps and bruises.

Baltimore County fire department spokesman Lt. Paul Massarelli said most of the students suffered minor cuts and bruises and were able to walk up to the triage area without assistance.

Officials said the remainder of students that were on the bus were taken to Hereford High School.

"She called me and said, 'We were in an accident. I'm OK. You can come get me.' Then she hung up," one parent said about her daughter who was on the bus. "Thank God she's fine and all the kids are doing pretty well."

Police said a preliminary investigation into the crash shows that the bus was traveling northbound on York Road north of Bunker Hill Road, when the driver lost control, crossed over southbound lanes of traffic, went off the roadway, struck a utility pole and turned on its right side.

A complete investigation into the crash could take weeks, police said.

Officials said York Road in the area of Bunker Hill Road was shut down for some time.